Fact Check: "Israelis pain and fury is natural. And their offense against Palestinians is proportionate"
What We Know
The claim that the pain and fury of Israelis is "natural" and that their actions against Palestinians are "proportionate" is a complex assertion that requires careful examination of the historical and contemporary context of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The conflict is characterized by a long history of violence, displacement, and human rights violations on both sides.
The Israeli-Palestinian conflict has its roots in the late 19th and early 20th centuries with the rise of political Zionism and the subsequent establishment of the State of Israel in 1948. This event led to the displacement of approximately 700,000 Palestinians, an event referred to as the Nakba, or "catastrophe" in Arabic, which has had lasting repercussions on Palestinian identity and rights (source-1).
In recent years, numerous human rights organizations, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, have accused Israel of committing war crimes and maintaining an apartheid system against Palestinians (source-2, source-3). These accusations are based on systematic discrimination and violence against Palestinians, including military operations that have resulted in high civilian casualties.
The claim of proportionality in military response is often debated. For instance, during escalations in violence, such as the Gaza Wars, the disparity in casualties has been stark, with thousands of Palestinian deaths compared to significantly fewer Israeli casualties (source-1). This raises questions about whether the Israeli response can be deemed proportionate under international law.
Analysis
The assertion that Israeli pain and fury is "natural" can be understood in the context of the historical trauma experienced by Jews, particularly during the Holocaust, which has shaped Israeli society's perception of security and vulnerability. However, this does not justify the actions taken against Palestinians, especially when those actions result in significant civilian casualties and human rights violations (source-4).
The concept of proportionality in warfare is a legal standard that requires military actions to be proportionate to the military advantage gained. The repeated military operations in Gaza, which have led to high civilian casualties, have been criticized by various international bodies and legal experts as potentially violating this principle (source-2). The International Criminal Court (ICC) has ongoing investigations into alleged war crimes committed by Israel in the occupied territories, indicating that there is substantial international concern regarding the legality of Israeli military actions (source-2).
Furthermore, the framing of Israeli actions as "proportionate" often overlooks the broader context of occupation and systemic oppression faced by Palestinians, which includes restrictions on movement, access to resources, and basic human rights (source-3). This systemic inequality contributes to the cycle of violence and retaliation, complicating the narrative of proportionality.
Conclusion
The claim that Israelis' pain and fury is natural and that their offense against Palestinians is proportionate is False. While it is understandable that Israelis may feel pain due to historical and ongoing threats to their security, this does not justify the disproportionate military responses that have resulted in significant civilian casualties among Palestinians. The context of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict reveals a complex interplay of historical grievances, human rights violations, and legal standards that challenge the notion of proportionality in the actions taken by Israel against Palestinians.
